Author: Gift Ifeanyi

Google Hustle Academy 2025 is Back! The Google Hustle Academy 2025 is returning to provide AI-powered training, mentorship, and business growth strategies to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Empowering Africa’s Entrepreneurs SMBs are crucial to Africa’s economic growth. The Google Hustle Academy program aims to empower these vital businesses by offering essential training and resources to entrepreneurs in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Hustle Academy 2025: Building on Previous Success with Continued AI Integration Since its inception in 2022, the Hustle Academy has effectively trained over 15,000 SMBs. The 2025 edition will build on…

Nigeria has officially joined the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as its eighth African member and 77th shareholder. The announcement of Nigeria’s membership was made by the country’s Finance Minister and Economic Coordinator, Wale Edun, during a ceremony where he received the membership certificate from a delegation led by Heike Hamgart in Abuja. This development marks a significant step toward enhancing economic growth and attracting foreign investment. The EBRD finances projects across critical sectors, including energy, financial institutions, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). As a global financial institution, the EBRD is dedicated to fostering private sector growth…

The Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP), in partnership with Ecobank Nigeria, has announced a three-day Entrepreneurship Business Training Workshop aimed at small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the solar energy sector. The workshop will take place in Abuja from March 10 to March 12. According to a joint statement from the partners, this training will empower 50 SMEs with the technical, financial, and business management skills needed to thrive in the rapidly growing renewable energy industry. ROGEAP is funded by the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund, and the Directorate General for International Cooperation of the Netherlands, and it…

The Lagos State government is strengthening its position as a leading hub for innovation to attract startups and small businesses, providing fertile ground for them to commercialize their breakthroughs. Feyisayo Alayande, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), spoke at the recent Impact Investors Foundation (IIF) supported Enterprise Support Organisation (ESO) event in Lagos. She highlighted the strategic advantages of the state’s location and its supportive environment for businesses. Represented by Gbemisola Ladipo, the Head of Strategy and Product Development at LSETF, Alayande emphasized that the success of startups relies on government-supported infrastructure and assistance frameworks.…

Market research group Kantar’s owners are exploring the sale of its Worldpanel division for £5 billion (€5.96 billion) or more, according to a report by Sky News on Sunday. In a separate report, the Financial Times indicated that Kantar is set to be broken up and sold. Kantar’s owners, Bain Capital and the advertising group WPP, declined to comment on these reports, and Kantar did not respond immediately to requests for comment. The Sky News report suggests that the decision by Bain and WPP to sell Worldpanel, which operates consumer panels globally, has not yet been finalized. If such a…

The challenging economic environment has resulted in the closure of approximately 30 percent of Micro and Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria, equating to about 7.2 million of the country’s estimated 24 million MSMEs, according to the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). This information was shared by Dr. Segun Omisakin, Chief Economist and Director of Research at NESG, during the launch of the 2025 Private Sector Outlook. He highlighted key economic trends, challenges, and opportunities for businesses navigating the evolving Nigerian economy. Omisakin noted that this situation emphasizes Nigeria’s economic vulnerability, adding that the country experienced an estimated loss of…

The IgniteHer Bootcamp, a groundbreaking initiative by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), concluded on Friday, March 7, after five days of intensive training aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs. The program brought together 90 female entrepreneurs and focused on equipping participants with essential digital skills, business strategies, and mentorship opportunities to help them scale their ventures and contribute to economic growth. Held as part of NITDA’s commitment to promoting gender inclusivity and digital transformation, the bootcamp addressed systemic barriers that often impede women’s participation in entrepreneurship. Through expert-led sessions, hands-on…

Dr. Daere Akobo, the founder of PE Energy and chairman of PANA Holdings, has been honored with the prestigious Global Business Conclave 2025 award by White Page International. The Nigerian entrepreneur, business mentor, and philanthropist was among the global power leaders who attended the Global Business Conclave events held recently in London, United Kingdom. According to White Page International, the Global Business Conclave serves as an interdisciplinary forum for top executives, thought leaders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and other influential figures from around the world. The event optimizes networking opportunities and fosters revolutionary idea generation through a packed day of transformational talks,…

LAGOS, March 10 (Reuters) – Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced that it recovered nearly $500 million in proceeds from criminal activities last year and secured over 4,000 criminal convictions, the highest number since the agency was established more than two decades ago. As Africa’s largest energy producer, Nigeria has faced persistent corruption for decades, which many citizens believe contributes to widespread poverty in the country. In a report released on Monday, the EFCC stated that some of the recovered funds have been reinvested in government projects. Nigeria ranks 140 out of 180 on Transparency International’s most recent…

Nigeria spent an astonishing ₦930 billion on fuel imports in February 2025, even with increased production from local refineries. This situation raises concerns about the country’s ongoing reliance on foreign petroleum products. Official data indicates that oil marketers licensed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) imported 701.75 million liters of petrol and 265.88 million liters of diesel just in February. This is part of a larger trend, with ₦5.5 trillion spent on fuel imports between October 2024 and January 2025. Ogbugo Ukoha, the Executive Director of Distribution, Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure at NMDPRA, defended the…

Nigeria’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have contributed nearly 48 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the last five years, according to reports from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and PwC. Notably, women-led businesses account for only about 33 percent of the total SMEs in Nigeria, a situation that experts have identified as a gender imbalance in the SME sector. Many female entrepreneurs in Nigeria struggle to access digital opportunities that would enable them to be profitable, seize industry chances, and expand their reach. Recognizing this gap, Jiji Africa, in partnership with the Association of Small…

Nigeria is a country rich in opportunity but also faced with complex challenges. For wealthy Nigerians, balancing these two extremes can be difficult. A diverse investment portfolio can help spread risk and create new opportunities, ensuring long-term value. However, many high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in Nigeria still face significant barriers to global mobility and opportunity due to the limitations of their passports. Consequently, Nigerian HNWIs are increasingly exploring residency and citizenship options abroad, effectively diversifying not just their assets but also their geographical domicile options. According to Henley & Partners, Nigerians were among the top five nationalities to inquire about investment…

On March 6, 2025, the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the Centre for Strategy and Evaluation Services (CSES), initiated a transformative research project titled “Regulatory Reform for Businesses and Consumers in ASEAN Countries – Understanding Potential Impacts on Gender Equality and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.” This comprehensive study, launched under the Regulatory Reform pillar of the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme, aims to delve deeply into the myriad challenges faced by businesses across the ASEAN region while identifying actionable opportunities for fostering inclusive policymaking. It particularly seeks to illuminate how regulatory reforms can effectively bolster the position of women entrepreneurs…

Nigeria’s economic policies are producing positive outcomes, with the country achieving a trade surplus of $16 billion, rising foreign reserves, and increased investor confidence, according to the Presidency. In a recent interview, Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, attributed this economic boost to the bold policy decisions made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. These decisions have stabilized the financial sector, improved regulatory transparency, and enhanced Nigeria’s appeal as an investment destination. “President Tinubu has taken decisive steps to stabilize the naira, curb inflation, and boost production. As a result, global investors are…

With inflation easing to 24.5% in January, rising foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, and an expanding gross domestic product (GDP), Nigeria’s economy is recovering faster than many analysts anticipated. Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-led Monetary Policy Committee’s decision to maintain interest rates at its last meeting has fueled a rally in Nigeria’s Eurobond market, reinforcing foreign investors’ confidence in the domestic economy. Undoubtedly, the Nigerian economy has the potential to attract and sustain foreign investors’ interest.   Several macroeconomic indicators are improving, and the expanded GDP size is drawing savvy investors back to the country. Investment reports show that…

Rising cocoa prices are generating increased interest in positioning Nigeria as a significant player in the cocoa industry, with aspirations to compete with leading producers Ivory Coast and Ghana, where crops have suffered due to climate change and disease. Nigeria has faced challenges in diversifying its oil-dependent economy, but the surge in global cocoa prices, which reached a record $12,000 per ton in December, has drawn renewed attention to cocoa bean production. “The farmers have never had it so good,” stated Patrick Adebola, executive director at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, in an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP). This…